Emmanuel Adebayor’s journey to international football took an unexpected turn early in his career. The talented striker had the opportunity to represent Ghana at the junior level but ultimately chose to play for Togo due to a language barrier.
In a recent interview, Adebayor recounted how he almost played for Ghana but faced difficulties communicating with his teammates and coaches. During his youth, he quickly established himself as a leader on the pitch, captaining his school team, his district team, and even his regional team. His performances earned him a call-up to the Ghanaian junior national team, and he joined the squad in camp.
However, the experience did not go as planned. According to Adebayor, the dominant languages spoken in camp were Twi and Ga—languages he did not understand. Feeling isolated and struggling to communicate, he made a bold decision.
“In interschools, I was captain, then we played inter-district; I was captain, then we played inter-region; I was captain at the time. Then I got the opportunity for the national team; we went to camp in Accra. When I went to camp, they were speaking Twi and Ga. I couldn’t understand. So around 4 a.m., I carried my bag and carried my box, and the first trotro we call a bus ‘going towards Lome, back home.’”
Returning to his home country, Adebayor set his sights on representing Togo. He made his debut for the Togolese national team in 2000, marking the beginning of an illustrious international career. His impact on Togo’s football history was immense—he became the country’s all-time top goal scorer and a national icon. In 2006, he led Togo to their first-ever FIFA World Cup, a historic moment for the nation. That same year, his outstanding performances earned him the African Player of the Year award, cementing his legacy in African football.
Although he never played for Ghana, Adebayor’s decision paved the way for his remarkable success with Togo. His story is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the unpredictable nature of football careers. Despite the language barrier that led him away from Ghana, he carved out an incredible journey that made him one of Africa’s football legends.